Reflect (January 14, 2018)
Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.
*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering
SABBATICAL REFLECTIONS
CALL TO WORSHIP
The World can seem like a frightening place. So much changes & so quickly. There's much that is uncertain & seems so fragile. So our call to worship reminds us of God's stability. His beautiful strength.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and the mountains quake.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, and the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
(Based on Psalm 46:1-7)
Song: Jesus is the Lord of All
Song: Behold our God
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
When we look around at the world in which we live, the presence of evil and suffering is sometimes too much for us to bear. When sin entered the world, all of creation was broken, sin shattered the good and perfect creation God had made and we still live in that reality now. God wants us to bring our suffering to Him though, we can make a case before Him,
laying our emotion and frustration before Him. Let's do that together now as we pray these words, join with me in the underlined portions.
Father God, in light of a world that is filled with sin and hate, we confess our own weakness, the sin in our heart, and our need for a Saviour.
We lament and mourn the effects of sin in our lives and in our world. In our confession and lament, lead us to repentance, remind us of the grace that You have given us through the work of Jesus Christ.
Cause us to trust, rest in, and join with Your Spirit’s reconciling and restoring work through the Gospel of Jesus in our world and in our hearts. Amen.
Even though we see the effects of sin in this world, God is still good, Christ has taken our sin upon him and dealt with it so that we have a future hope where there will be no more pain or suffering. The hope of the gospel is that not only has our sin been dealt with but God meets us in our struggles now. Let's sing out in light of that truth now.
Song: O God
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
In Summer 2017, Gary and the Aston family had an extended period of Sabbatical. Gary shared some of what God had been teaching him during this time in our gathering from 2 Corinthians 4:7-18. Listen to that sermon here:
COMMUNION
Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.
POST COMMUNION READING
Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
Song: Hallelujah What a Saviour
Song: See the Lamb of God
COMMITMENT READING
Father God, we thank you that you care for us in the midst of our pain and suffering. Thank you that Jesus came down into our broken world, suffering for our sake, that we might be healed.
Help us to know, in the midst of our troubles, that because Jesus suffered, he is able to empathize with our sufferings. By you Spirit, help us to comfort one another with the comfort that only comes through Christ. Amen.
BENEDICTION
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.
Reflect (January 7, 2018)
Welcome to the Sunday Gathering recap (songs, hymns, liturgy and sermon). This blog gives you an opportunity to reflect on what you heard in the gathering or catch up if you weren’t able to be with us.
*The indented sections are responses read aloud by the congregation during the Gathering
COLOSSIANS 2:6-7
CALL TO WORSHIP
As we approach a New Year we are often faced with a mix of emotions: Excitement at new possibilities; fear over what we don’t know; anticipation over what’s to come; anxiety over questions we can’t answer. But we remind our hearts, as we start this new year, that God is faithful that he is constant & he is good. Join me in this call to worship.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Great is your faithfulness.
The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.
Great is your faithfulness.
(Based on Lamentations 3:22-25)
Song: Doxology
Song: Rock of Ages
Song: You Alone Can Rescue
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
We've just sung that it is God alone who saves us, yet we are quick to forget this. As we approach a new year, we're often quick to doubt God's goodness and his sovereignty. We so desperately want to know what lies ahead that we fail to trust him, the unfailing one. Take a moment to reflect on that now, to confess to God the tendency to rely on your plans and purposes rather than on his.
Father God, you tell us in your word to fear not, for you are with us; to not be dismayed, for you are our God. Remind us of this at the start of a new year we pray. Help us to have faith that rests in who you are and what you have done for us in Christ. Would we cling to your promise that you will never leave us nor forsake us. Amen.
Even though we doubt God and his character, he never turns us away. Because of Jesus we are still welcomed into God's family. Let's sing of that welcome together now.
Song: Come Ye Sinners
PASSING OF THE PEACE
PREACHING OF THE WORD
John McPhilimey preached to us from Colossians 2:6-7 at the beginning of this new year. Listen to that sermon here:
COMMUNION
Every week we want to respond to what God has done for us in Jesus. One of the great ways he has provided for us to remember the truth of the gospel is giving us communion. As we take the bread and wine we remember what Jesus has done for us.
POST COMMUNION READING
Jesus’ death brings us life and this meal reminds us that we are fed by Jesus and forgiven because of Jesus.
We rejoice that You have died, rose again, and are now with the Father advocating for us. Amen.
With our money, time, and talent we give generously, knowing that through Your Son, Jesus, You have generously given to us.
We rejoice that You have given everything and we joyfully give everything back to Your care. Amen.
Song: How Deep the Father's Love
Song: Jesus Paid it All
COMMITMENT READING
We need God's help in this, let's pray these words together now, asking that God, by the Spirit would help us as we go now.
Father God, we know that we can't do any of this without you. Just as we received Christ Jesus the Lord, help us to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith. Help us to abound in thanksgiving, giving glory to you in all that we do. Amen.
Colossians 2:6-7
BENEDICTION
May we enter this New Year knowing the security that comes from being in Christ. The deep joy that comes from being a child of God. And the certainty of knowing God's presence with us through the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you.
And also with you.
Amen.
